Identifying qualitative and quantitative factors affecting the competitiveness of companies on the Swedish road haulage market : A case study of Wirens Akeri and EA Akeri

Abstract: Introduction The road transport in Europe is the dominant means of transportation in the region. The European road haulage market is considerably liberalized and integrated. However, there are big discrepancies between the different regions in the market in regard to the costs the haulage companies have. In Sweden haulage companies have higher fuel and drivers costs compared to other European countries. Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate how Swedish companies are remaining competitive in a highly integrated market which is not favourable for companies established in countries with high costs. Method The study will be conducted through a multiple holistic case study. The owners of the companies EA Akeri and Wirens Akeri would be interviewed. The data collection techniques would be mixture between an interview with open ended questions and a questionnaire. The data processing technique would allow for the use of both qualitative and quantitative data. Findings The study has found out that the researched companies rely heavily on utilizing as much of their loading capacity as possible. They do that through using terminal buildings and keeping close contact with customers. In addition to that, companies are also working on minimizing their costs through using HVO fuel, using 25.25 meters modular combinations, paying attention to tire pressure and tire allocation and educating and monitoring the driving style of their drivers. However, the companies are not using extra aerodynamic components than what is preinstalled and they are not considering lowering the drivers’ wages by relocating the company operations in a neighbouring country. Future Scope The research can provide useful framework for managers willing to operate their road haulage companies more effectively. In addition to that, the research might provide the foundation for other case studies investigating the same problem or even testing issues like the importance of close customer contact or which are the factors affecting the most the fuel consumption according to managers or drivers.